Thread: first shave with a wedge

I hope you will forgive me if I repost here my post to another thread:

I have been thinking about the hollow vs. wedge blades recently because my sympathies were shifting quite dramatically in the past three months.

One of my first razors was an extra hollow one and I had big problems shaving with it without cutting the heck out of myself. Then I got a 1/4 hollow Wostenholm wedge which felt like a miracle. It was much better for my bad angles and poor technique. But as I was getting better and my shaves were getting closer, I discovered the bliss of hollow ground razors. I cannot get as close shave from a wedge as from a hollow razor today; and I nick myself far worse with wedges. I guess I have to improve my technique more to get my "wedge skills" on par with my "hollow skills". Wedges do not forgive me any mistakes.

My 2c...

Originally Posted by gugi

That's an excellent indicator that your technique needs a lot of work

I read and re-read the first post, and I don't know how you can jump to critiquing the poster's technique, the smiley face notwithstanding. Some razors are more fun to shave with than others, and I definitely have better results with some than others, and variances in results on different days. I believe noobs need encouragement, not putdowns.

Originally Posted by igitur55

the smiley face notwithstanding.

No, it is definitely standing right there.

Originally Posted by igitur55

Some razors are more fun to shave with than others, and I definitely have better results with some than others, and variances in results on different days.

Yes, same thing here. and the subpar results tend to happen exclusively when I switch a razor.

Originally Posted by igitur55

I believe noobs need encouragement, not putdowns.

Yeah, you should perhaps reread my post as many times as you read the first one, may be you will change your opinion of it.
A person shaving 3 months with straight razor is not exactly the same as person shaving 3 times with one.

everyone has a learning phase but nothing that practice, patientce and time wont cure

Originally Posted by kerik

I'm diggin' the wedges!

Me too!

I shaved with a cartridge razor for 15 years without needing to tweak my technique and have no regrets other than for the money I spent on them

Originally Posted by jszabo

everyone has a learning phase but nothing that practice, patientce and time wont cure

That's right, I have not found any way around the necessity of practice for improvement of shaving technique

Originally Posted by gugi

No, it is definitely standing right there.

Yes, same thing here. and the subpar results tend to happen exclusively when I switch a razor.


Yeah, you should perhaps reread my post as many times as you read the first one, may be you will change your opinion of it.
A person shaving 3 months with straight razor is not exactly the same as person shaving 3 times with one.

I don't think gugi was trying to put anyone down.

It's a common experience - and often posted - that a relatively new shaver will try their first wedge be amazed at how smoothly it shaves. They, then often think they "like" wedges better than full hollows. Very often, after a few more months or year or whatever, they realize that the full hollow can be just as smooth as the wedge and gives much better feedback and control - at the edge. They conclude that the wedge is not better than the full hollow - just different. This happens all the time and I think gugi was pointing to that. Correct me if I'm wrong, gugi.

EDIT: I went through this process myself, so this isn't a criticism of anyone.

Jordan

so, after a year or so as the technique gets better, do you generally prefer to use one type of razor over another? or is it some days you feel like steak and some days you feel like pasta?

The way jnich67 explained it made better sense than gugi.

I still enjoy using razors of various grinds. Typically, I like full hollows for daily shaving because I'm only shaving stubble and the thinner blade allows me a more delicate touch. If I've gone a few days, and want to get that "mowing through" sensation, I'll go with a heavier blade. But it depends on my mood.


Jordan

Originally Posted by gugi

Yes, same thing here. and the subpar results tend to happen exclusively when I switch a razor.

OK, I haven't found that. My experience seems a little more random than that. But, these days I am finding I am rarely surprised when I have a bad experience. If I look back, it seems my disposition, stress level, etc. going into the shave kind of pre-disposed me to a good/bad shave.

Originally Posted by gugi

Yeah, you should perhaps reread my post as many times as you read the first one, may be you will change your opinion of it.

I'll try not to--it's easy to read too much into the written word. You seem like a helpful guy, so I have no reason to doubt it's as you say.